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Pesto Chicken Bagels with Mozzarella and Tomatoes

5 from 1 vote
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Cook Time: 10 minutes
Additional Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Author: Doina

Ingredients

  • 4 sesame bagels or your favorite plain or savory bagel
  • 1 lb chicken breast 450 grams
  • 1/2 cup fresh basil pesto
  • 14 oz 400 grams fresh mozzzarella
  • 2 large tomatoes
  • 1 cup packed arugula
  • 1/2 tsp kosher salt or more to taste
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tbsp olive oil for grilling/pan-frying the chicken

Instructions

  • Butterfly the chicken breast and season it with salt, black pepper, and garlic powder.
  • To a frying pan or grill pan over medium-high heat, add 1 tbsp of olive oil and pan-fry the chicken until fully cooked (about 3-4 minutes on each side). The chicken breast is fully cooked when the internal temperature, when measured with a meat thermometer, is 165°F (or 74°C).
  • When the chicken is cooked, spoon about 1 tsp of pesto over each butterflied chicken breast fillet. Let the chicken rest on a warm plate for about 5 minutes while you work on the bagels and fillings.
  • Cut the bagels in half. Optionally, toast them. I generally like to toast them in the same pan I cooked the chicken (for extra flavor)! If using the pan, just place them face down and toast for about a minute. If the pan is too dry, add a drizzle of olive oil.
  • Slice the tomatoes and mozzarella, and prepare the assembly station.
  • Divide the remaining pesto among the bagels, spreading it on both bagel halves. Then, add the tomatoes, mozzarella, arugula, and pesto chicken.
  • To keep the bagel fillings from falling out, I do what many bagel shops do. Wrap the bagels tightly in parchment paper (or wrapping paper) so it’s all contained. Then, cut the bagel in half (see below). To wrap it, get a square piece of parchment paper/wrapping paper and then place the bagel in a corner. Then, fold the paper over the bagel from the corner on a diagonal until it’s all wrapped. Then, tuck the flaps under the bagel or use a piece of tape to tape the flaps to each other.
  • Serve it warm or cold (you can meal prep this ahead of time and take it with you to work for lunch).